Endeavor completes a minor refit to its orbital maneuvering system. Ever since the rear cargo addition was added to the Crew Shuttles orbital handling has been off, it’s hoped that this update will make the craft easier to control during docking! In addition, air brakes developed during the Heavy Cargo Shuttle Program have been scaled down, and installed on Endeavor. Hopefully they assist in landing safety!

Today, Val pilots Endeavor to orbit, taking Robart and Orlas up to the KSS for a crew rotation! This might be the last launch to make use of the lower docking ports on the KSS, as engineers are designing a new Observation Lounge for the station, based on designs developed for Explorer 3! Getting the huge addition into space will help test how practical it will be for the Explorer crew!

Endeavor arrives at the KSS!

“This new orbital maneuvering system works a LOT better than the old design. We should refit the rest of the Crew Shuttles ASAP!”

-Val

Shepley, Jeb, Bob depart in the Intrepid, which is due for its own upgrades once it returns to Kerbin!

Jeb soars Intrepid down to the runway…

…for a perfect landing!

“Let’s get this thing refitted… I can’t wait to try out the new design!”

The Explorer spacecraft finishes its journey from Eve to Gilly, circularizing an orbit around the small planetoid.

“Fuel keeps getting lower and lower guys… let’s try to be careful!”

-Mitster

For the first time all three crew of a spacecraft will abandon their vessel and head down in a lander. It’s a bit risky… but no one wants to be left behind on such a momentous occasion!Chrisnic, Mitster, and Orlas climb into the LARC… and detach!

The LARC slowly moves away from Explorer.. and heads down to Gilly!

“”I’m so excited! ”

-Orlas

The LARC sets down, and Chrisnic climbs out…

Once he lets go of the ladder, the slightest step sends him flying across the surface

“Whoa! The low gravity here is… very low! Be careful!”

-Chrisnic

Mitster is next… expertly piloting his rocket pack over to Chrisnic!

“You weren’t kidding! It’s almost like we’re in space, and not even on a moon!

-Mitster

Orlas jumps out next!

“Wheeeeee!”

-Orlas

After having a good deal of fun playing on Gilly, the crew of Explorer gathers to take a landing portrait…. when Orlas notices something…

“Wow! What a sight to behold!”

-Orlas

The crew pose for their portrait… the first Kerbals to land on Gilly! What a day! The crew will spend about 4 days on the surface of Gilly collecting important data before returning to the Explorer, high above the small moon… empty… waiting for its crew!

Mitster and Chrisnic transfer to the command module, while Orlas looks out the windows excitedly – it’s Eve Day – the day Kerbals arrive at Eve for the first time… ever!!!

“It’s so… purple!”
-Orlas

The NERV Nuclear Engines fire… and fire… and fire.. the long but very efficient burn lasts nearly 4 minutes, as Explorer’s orbit is slowly circularized around Eve.

“Hang in there everybody… this will be a long burn, but it’s going exactly as simulations said it would!”

-Mitster

Indeed – DSV-1 Explorer eventually does circularize it’s orbit… and becomes the first vessel carrying Kerbals to orbit Eve! The orbit has an apoapsis of 14,831 km, and periapsis of 122 km. The burn took so long that Explorer will need to swing around Eve once more before arriving at the Periapsis again… and that’s when the atmospheric probe will be launched!

Explorer, still on its long journey to Eve, is 120 days into its mission! Chrisnic, Mitster, and Orlas have gotten to know each other’s annoying habits really well – but have also grown to be very close friends. Good thing too – their mission still has a long way to go! They’re all very eager to be the first Kerbals to see Eve … close up!